Seasonal closet changes

Our home is a big old rambling farm home built in the 1800's by a family with 11 kids. The family was quite wealthy, our home is beautiful. I think of them every day, and hope I can live here forever. The closets are larger than most old houses, but still small compared to today's standards. As we change from winter to spring and summer, I exchange the clothes from bins to closets to bins, to be stored once again in the attic. With only two kids, and two adults, why do we have so many clothes? Do we really need them? How did a family of 13 live here with these small closets?
My husband and I have been about the same size for the past 20 years or more. I tend to buy classic style clothes that don't really go out of style, with most of our clothes coming from resale shops. I hate to throw anything away. But, like most women, it's fun to get something new (from the consignment shop!)
The U.S. has such a quest for buying new things. No one seems to be satisfied with what they have. Everyone wants more, more, more. It's scary. No one wants to be responsible for their actions.
And so, we go on with our life. Raising sheep, chickens, ducks, geese... Planting large gardens. Trying to live, season by season.
Or, maybe I'm just cranky from all of this work when I'd rather be outside...

Lamby cuteness!

Ivan, hoping to go out to RUN

After several days of chilly drizzle, the sun began to peak out of the clouds. Everyone had a case of cabin fever.

The ewes loved going out to nibble on grass.

I love watching the new lambs
bouncing alongside their mommas.

They don't eat grass yet, but it sure smells good!Some of the lambs have white "flashing" in their wool. These aren't true spots, and often fade with time. They are good indicators that the lamb carries spotting, though.

Felicite's little moorit grey ram looks like a little old man.
I'll have to get busy working on H names.

Fern's little white ram--sweet!

and.......ANOTHER BIG RAM!

Fancy surprised us with a big 9 lb. black mouflon ram lamb this late afternoon. My daughter and I had gone into the barn to give Bose to the Tuesday-born lambs, and there he was, all dried off and fed. Fancy is a black mouflon badgerface, which is a double pattern. I love the mouflon pattern, too bad he isn't a she! Sire is Echo.

Another big ram!

Doesn't Felicite look pleased with herself?

A quick barn check, and Felicite was in the corner, moaning and groaning. I took a peek, and it looked to be another big lamb, but at least the hooves were coming out the right way. Pulling lambs is hard. I hate to be too brutal. Sometimes it feels like you are going to pull the legs right off the poor lamb! First think I do, is lube mom up good with Ivory dish soap. I manually try to get her vulva stretched out. Using washcloths to pull gives you a better grip than paper towels. Still, not quite good enough. Those lambs are so slippery! So tonight, I tried something new. I put a heavy rubber band around each leg. It worked like a charm! Now, rubber bands will be added to my lambing kit.

Felicite is so happy with her new little boy. Finn is the sire.
Those horn buds are huge!

It's been a busy (happy) day in the barn,
and the day isn't over yet.

Two New Ewes!!

Felicia was due to lamb over the weekend. She was one of the few breedings I saw, and could somewhat plan for. Two beautiful ebony black ewe lambs! Sire is our black yearling Grady.Sizes were perfect--6 and 7 lb. Ewe lambs rarely have large horn buds, so delivery is so much easier on mom. Delivery was swift and easy. The girls were lively and nursing in no time. I love black lambs, and have way too many black adults. Who knew that black came in so many shades? From charcoal, to ebony, inky, raven, steel, pewter, gun metal, ashen, chocolate, cocoa, grey...the list runs on and on. Felicia is another first time mom, and doing a wonderful job!

Another BIG single!

The baby monitor woke me this morning with the sounds of a ewe in hard labor. I threw on my clothes and ran out to the barn to see who it was. Fern! A two winter ewe, first time mother. From the size of the emerging hooves, I could tell it was going to another big one. I ran back inside to wake my daughter and made a pot of coffee. Back out we went. Fern wasn't making progress, so we helped ease the lamb out, another 9.5 lb. ram with big horn buds. He's white with a black spot on his heel. So, Fern carries spotting. Sire is Finn.
I got them situated in the lambing jug, only to discover someone else had taken up residence. A brown Muscovy duck! She'll have to find another spot to lay her eggs.

Happy Easter!